Obituary for Billie Martin

Billie Louise Martin

October 4, 1931 – March 30, 2024

Billie Louise (McPherson) Martin, 92, was born on October 4, 1931, in Osage County, Oklahoma, to Alva (LeGrand) McPherson and Elmo Leslie (Les or Mac) McPherson. She went to be with her Lord on Saturday, March 30, 2024.

Billie attended Washington Grade School in Tonkawa, OK, and graduated from Tonkawa High School in 1950. After graduating from Ponca City Business College in Ponca City, OK, she worked for Conoco in Ponca City, OK, for 42 years. She worked her way through the ranks to Executive Secretary to the Manager of the Ponca City Conoco Refinery. She retired in 1991, at the age of 60, to take care of her elderly mother, Alva McPherson.

Billie married Bobby (Bob) Leroy Martin February 26, 1951, at the Kay County Courthouse. They had five children, Reta, Robert, Lisa, Ricky and Lea.

Billie was an awesome mother and always worked very hard for her family. She was always cooking and cleaning for them, and attending their activities, besides working a full time job at Conoco. She ran the Sunday and Daily Oklahoma so the kids could earn spending money. She would fill the paper racks in Tonkawa and Lamont in the mornings before going to work at Conoco. The kids would throw newspaper routes in the middle of the night and collect from customers. Billie enjoyed working in her yard, and her vegetable and flower gardens. She also loved cane pole fishing. Her great grandson, Bodie Swords, loves to fish too. When Bodie found out that Great Grandma Billie loved to fish, he always talked about taking her fishing when she felt better. Later in life, she enjoyed going to the casino and watching the Fox channel.

Billie was preceded in death by her husband, Bob Martin, her parents, Alva McPherson and Les (Mac) McPherson, a sister, Wilma McGlone and a great grandson, Toby Jones.

Left to cherish her memory are her sister, Judy Doughty (Ronny), of Poulsbo, WA. Her children, Reta Swords (Larry) of Tonkawa, OK, Robert Martin of Tonkawa, OK, Lisa Maple (Ronnie) of Tonkawa, OK, Rick Martin (Laura) of Ft. Worth, TX, and Lea Glenn (Dustin) of Newkirk, OK. Her grandchildren, Zac Swords (Melissa) of Tonkawa, OK, Rachel Clinesmith (Trent) of Perkins, OK, Niesha Jones (Casey) of Tonkawa, OK, Krista Palmer (Will) of Tonkawa, OK, Shaylynn Gose (Lucky) of Tonkawa, OK, Dray Glenn of Ponca City, OK, Chase Glenn of Ponca City, OK, Layne Martin of Lexington, KY, and Ember Martin of Ft. Worth, TX. Her great grandchildren, Bodie Swords of Tonkawa, OK, Azeliah Palmer, Audrina Palmer, Remington Palmer and Makai Palmer of Tonkawa, OK, Blaze Jones and Keeleigh Jones of Tonkawa, OK, Trynlee Clinesmith, Creed Clinesmith and Pake Clinesmith of Perkins, OK, Aspyn Glenn and Weston Glenn of Ponca City, OK, and Madaleigh Gose, Brielle Gose and Ellie Gose of Tonkawa, OK. And her many nieces and nephews, cousins, and great nieces and nephews.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been set up with the Tonkawa High School Alumni Association whom gives two scholarships per year to Tonkawa High School Seniors to attend a college of their choice. Billie has performed volunteer work for the Alumni Association for many years and because she was a Conoco retiree, she applied for and received grant monies from Conoco for the Alumni Association. The address for the Tonkawa High School Alumni Association is: P. O. Box 12, Tonkawa, OK 74653.

A family viewing was held Monday, April 1, 2024. Per Billie’s wishes, she will be cremated and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date when family members can get here from out of state.

Source: Trout Funeral Home